I like the idea but I'm sure I've heard of similar arrangements in the past that didn't quite work out as intended......

Didn't quite work out for 2 party's, the 3rd one involved seemed to come out of it with something.

If by now we don't have the experience of employment and contract law to draft something legal then we've learnt nothing. Make the compensation high enough, maybe dependant on his earnings and caps, and we might price enough clubs out of bidding for him anyway.

I wasn't saying dont try it, I would like to think that Sam would either like to play in the NRL or with only us in SL, so yes, get a contract drawn up that brings him back to us after his stint in Oz and includes suitable compensation if he goes a year early. It's just that with our luck, previous form, call it what you will, I can see it not working out like that for us, hope Im wrong.

Such arrangements might sound good in theory, but in reality it's hard to see them working out well.

What if Sam went down under and was a big success and never wanted to return to Superleague?

The only way you could guarantee him having to return, contractually, would be for us to tie him to a long contract then loan him out.

If and when he does go I imagine it will be a clean break, with both parties making noises about how he will return one day, to lead McNamara's young "building for the future" team out of Championship 1 in 2018.

Losing our Sammy would be a big loss of playing talent and eye candy at the club

Time for a new banner competition as it looks like neither faces will be at Bradford for much longer.

A Nero & Worrloard one would look nice

No need, I keep one ready just for this eventuality

It looks spookily like the world collapsing around the Bulls. Rather than the other way round.

Given we've brought Burgess through from the academy aren't we legally entitled to some financial compension if he moves before he's 24?

Also, would we be able to hold his SL registration? I believe we did something similar when Karl Pryce left?

No and no.

We would be entitled to a fee as he is on contract, but the compensation thing only applies in the EU to OoC players.

The fee would be for his RL registration (which applies worldwide) which would transfer to Manly or whoever. We were able to keep Pryce's registration because he left the sport.

Well that sucks monkey wang